Help With Nutrition And Supplements When Beginning Work Outs

[Kjas]

Hey everyone.

I'm still a newbie to gluten free (2 months) although I've known for a few years that I have trouble with processed food. I'm a dancer but had to stop due to a complete inability to function from the gluten. I have been sick since September 2010 and was diagnosed in October 2011. After a hell of a lot of my own research and working with a very knowledgeable specialist, in the last 2 months my body has started the healing process, although it's going to be a long one from the looks of it.

I am currently 22 year old female, 5'0ft and 68 lbs currently. At my worst I was 61 lbs. Due to this, I really have no muscle left, certainly not enough to go back to dance yet. I have cleaned up my diet and don't eat anything outside of meat, vegetables, fruits and nuts at the moment. I am also intolerant to many things at the moment, some temporary, others permanent.

I need to know how to start adding muscle onto my frame so that I can go back to dance without pushing so much that it will harm the healing process. I don't really know what I should be doing in terms of nutrition and supplements in order to make that happen. At the moment I can't even jog down my street, that's how weak I am.

I really need an outline from some more experienced members as to what I should be doing to remedy this situation. What supplements should I be using? Is protein powder, creatine etc the way to go? What do I need to add or change in my diet to help with this process. Is weights something I should be considering or is walking enough for now? Pretty much any help I can get when it comes to this will be appreciated.

[bentramer1981]

Nothing packs on the lbs. like good old fashion steak and potatoes, chicken and potatoes is the next best thing imo and was very hypoallergenic for me when I first started. Another think if you just want to stack on the weight would be to buy Pamela's cookies I loved the chocolate chip walnut (each box is 1,000 calories) each and goes down soooooooooooooooooo easy! These two items coupled with Soy Silk (I

[Racer-J]

I'm going to agree with bentramer1981. You need to use food to increase your weight. If you can't jog down the street, there is no point in trying to do any type of workout or to spend money on "supplements". The only type of supplement that would do you any good right now would be a non-synthetic multivitamin and possibly a protein powder. Protein powders/MRPs are meant to add to your overall calorie intake though so, I would make sure your diet, calories, etc. are in check first. Speaking of which, a detailed account of what you're currently eating over a typical day that includes the amount of each item, calories, etc. would probably be helpful since you need advice on what to do. At that point someone can help you figure out if the calories need to go up and by how much.

Right now, the correct amount and types of food will be the most helpful in adding muscle and fat back on. Going by your current weight and the information you gave, it's probably safe to say that your body has been in a catabolic/survival state for some time and has been slowly breaking down your muscle as a food source from a lack of fat and digestion/absorption issues. You're going to have to help and allow both of those issues to reverse themselves. A proper diet, time, and rest are going to be the catalysts. You're going to have to get your energy back before you can even consider moving on to any type of workout.

I'm surprised your doctor hasn't wanted to put you into a short hospital stint with an IV and a liquid diet. When my father was finally diagnosed, the doctor was constantly stressing that if he continued to lose weight or gained it and then fell back below a certain threshold, they would admit him and would hold him till the weight corrected. He however is on the very fringe of the extreme side of celiac disease.

[Kjas]

Thank you for the replies so far. I will try to address what I can.

Before I was diagnosed, I was hospitalised in Sep 2010 for my iron levels and blood sugar issues. Since I was not diagnosed, I told them I don't do well with processed food and gluten, but they gave it to me anyway. When the nurse saw I refused to etc the bread etc, they said if I didn't start eating and start gaining that they would have to review with a doctor (i.e. assess whether or not I had an eating disorder). I tried to tell her the problem. After sufficient amount of threats I started eating everything they have me, only to have my weight go from 77 lbs to 61 lbs. They were forced to release me after mini intervention by my own doctor and treatment from him on a weekly basis until I was getting more stable. I was put on autoimmune suppressants and steroids of some kind. While I did gain weight, my neurological symptoms became worse than ever.

I did a lot of research while I was sick, and came up with Celiac as the only thing that fit the bill. I got myself off to a specialist in October this year and got diagnosed. I still see him now for regular check ups.

Just some extra information, I cannot eat potatoes or soy.

As for food it goes as follows:

Breakfast: Soup (homemade) at least 500 cal

Snack 1: carrot with nut butter ( or apple or pear)

Lunch: Soup (homemade) at least 500 cal

Snack 2: steak (115 g), salsa, guacamole, and salad

Dinner: Soup (homemade) at least 500 cal

Snack 3: feijoada (beef, pork pieces and black beans about 200 g), kale, orange .

The soup varies, sometimes it's lamb, chicken or seafood. Current week is lamb. Has as many vegetables and extra stuff that I could fit in it.

I currently take L-Glutamine, Colostrum and a probiotic in the mornings, as well as digestive enzymes. (suggested by my specialist)

Thank you for taking the time to answer Racer J and bentramer1981, I greatly appreciate it.